We have no idea what's on their nightstands, but one thing we do know about politicians is that they (and their staffs) read letters to the editor. In fact, the time you spend writing a letter to the editor may be even more valuable than the time you spend writing to the politician directly.

Why is that? Because politicians love praise and hate criticism. And that's especially true when it's in a public place like the newspaper (and during an election year).

Why are we telling you this? Because writing a letter to the editor may be one of the single most valuable things you can do to affect the debate on offshore drilling. And we feel it's our duty to let you know how to have the most impact on the political process, which is the thing that we know best.

Write to your local paper and express your passion for the ocean. Say that you oppose offshore drilling, that it won't make any difference to gas prices for twenty years, that we need to focus on renewable energy, and that it's crazy to drill just because it might provide a "psychological benefit" (that's what Sen. John McCain said). Say whatever's on your mind.

Our blog has great material on the "Myths and Facts" of offshore drilling (as well as an update on what's happened in Congress in the last week), and you can use those to inform your letter. We could give you a form letter, but it's more important that this letter be yours, because saving the oceans is your fight, just like it's our fight.

And if your elected officials have been good on this issue, praise them in the letter. And if they're not, let everybody know.